Head coach Sabrina King and a young Princeton women's volleyball team knows that there have been more first-half struggles than expected, but they also know that they can take a big step into a bright future with strong play over the final three weeks.

That stretch will begin this weekend when the Tigers host both Columbia (Friday, 7) and Cornell (Saturday, 5) at Dillon Gym. Both matches will be streamed live on the Ivy League Digital Network.

Friday night's match will feature the league's top four players in the points department. Princeton sophomore Kendall Peterkin leads the Ivy League with 4.02 points per set, while Columbia sophomore Bailey Springer ranks second with 3.73 points.

The strong underclassman brigade continues with Princeton freshman Cara Mattaliano, who ranks third with 3.45 points, while Columbia sophomore Lanti Moye-McLaren is fourth (3.40). Mattaliano had a terrific effort in the first match against the Lions, a 3-1 Princeton win in New York City; she recorded 17 kills and hit .364 in the victory and would go on to be named Ivy League Rookie of the Week.

Princeton lost a tight 3-1 match to Cornell in its first road match of the Ivy League season, with both of the final two sets being decided by two points apiece. Freshman setter Lauren Miller, another former Ivy League Rookie of the Week for the Tigers, had 35 assists, eight digs and five blocks in the match, while junior Tiana Woolridge had eight kills and seven blocks.

Princeton plays four of its final six matches at home, with a road trip to Harvard and Dartmouth during the weekend in between (Nov. 8-9). Princeton will host Yale and Brown during Alumni Weekend Nov. 15-16.